Album Fall Colors 2020

SteveR

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Messages
876
Too soon? Well- tell that to the alpine larch trees in the Alberta Rockies! We were surprised to find these golden beauties nearly at their full glory on September 18, about a week ahead of the usual peak in color. Due to the very warm and dry last 6 weeks of summer, I would guess. The only downside was a blanket of smoke, originating mainly from the fires in California and Oregon, obscuring the views but also adding to the golden glow.
_1220066-copy-2.jpg

_1220076-copy-2.jpg_1220078-copy-2.jpg_1220099-copy-2.jpg_1220114-copy-2.jpgUntitled_Panorama1-copy-2.jpg
More pix and narrative:
 
@kwc - wow, it changed a lot in just a week! We saw just a dash of color last week. It seems early this year.

It depends upon where you are in the Adirondacks ... color is close to 50% in the central Adirondacks, like Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. East of the high peaks it’s not changed all that much except in the marshy areas where the trees are more stressed anyways. Further north, up neat Plattsburgh, not much color at all. But the apple crop is ripe and ready and there are tons of apples on the trees up that way.
 
Nice, kwc! Those red colours bring back memories of the first 12 years of my life, in Montreal. We don't see much of that in Alberta, mostly yellows.
 
I rode the Lake Minnewanka trail on the first day of autumn. The biking and colors on "Banff's best singletrack" did not disappoint. The alpine larch get most of the attention in fall, but the scattered stands of aspen in a mostly coniferous setting were glorious:
P1110841-copy-2.jpgP1110843-copy-2.jpgP1110848-copy-2.jpgP1110868-copy-2.jpgP1110869-copy-2.jpgP1110904-copy-2.jpg
 
More Adirondack colors ... northern Adirondacks this time.

ED7A200A-AAEE-40DC-99D1-0B7B93CEC612.jpeg
the restored foot bridge in Wanakena. The original bridge was destroyed by river ice in 2014. Wanakena was once a booming small city that was built on the logging industry. In its heyday you could take the New York Central train from Grand Central Station all the way to the hotels in Wanakena. Today it’s hard to imagine this. All that remains are a variety of homes, mostly seasonal, and this bridge. SUNY ESF has their Ranger School there. And the Cranberry Lake 50 starts and ends here (50 mile loop trail through some pretty wild country).

25D66B3C-4AD1-4685-89EF-8280CC2D1B1F.jpeg
a view from the bridge
0325AD7B-A9BB-465E-B2A5-D526CE3B652A.jpeg
looking East from Tupper Lake ... the water beyond the foreground marshy area is the Raquette River.
B120FEBE-EB6C-4F45-A6C5-2724BDB29F85.jpeg
1C2070C4-4B2C-40B5-9C8E-56F1B410AABE.jpeg
6CF989B5-A3B9-4FAB-863A-4615F6E97843.jpeg
0CD982D5-E74E-4696-B102-BCFEBBC85660.jpeg
this was taken near the canoe launch for Round Lake in the Whitney Wilderness.
8650D8E9-FB8E-4047-ABE8-7970A2EA8F12.jpeg
37FB5B41-8636-4134-93AD-9D1CE52668BC.jpeg
you paddle up this channel towards Round Lake. This was once all private land owned by the Whitney family. William Whitney sold a huge chunk of land to New York State several years ago and most of it is designated wilderness.
 
A few photos from The Adirondacks yesterday. It was warm and very muggy during our 10 mile hike in the wilderness. Once Rick is done, I will add his photos. Just iPhone shots here:

IMG_1855.jpg

Enough wind to mess with any reflections
IMG_1875.jpg

The more enjoyable part of the day was at the lake in the wind! This is becoming an evening tradition.
IMG_1955.jpg

And dinner time, but no @scatman & @TractorDoc - we didn't have any Circus Peanut to eat!
IMG_1969.jpg

Sunset yesterday. Forever thankful to @kwc , we just finished our 4'th trip up there.
IMG_1986.jpg

And a non wilderness photo, as the colors are just stunning this year! This was taken Saturday, just before the warm muggy air mass moved in.
IMG_1790.jpg
 
Larch colors peaked early in the Canadian rockies, with snow last weekend up high and strong winds through the early part of this week leaving many trees stripped and the trail a carpet of golden needles, on our traverse of Pocaterra Ridge on Wednesday. No crowds though, thanks to a start in the clouds, with clearing after lunch.
_1230073-copy-2.jpg
Trees in sheltered spots were still hanging on to their needles, but the brilliant gold color has faded already.
_1230074-copy-2.jpg
_1230104-copy-2.jpg
Afternoon clearing on the ridgewalk.
_1230110-copy-2.jpg
A bit of color remaining, on a section where most trees were bare.
_1230112-copy-2.jpg_1230126-copy-2.jpg
Above- a look back at the ridge walk.
_1230141-copy-2.jpg
A bonus end to our day was stopping along the drive home at a quiet picnic area, to BBQ dinner and walk around the pond.
The aspens are full-on right now in the Kananaskis valley!
_1230158-copy-2.jpg_1230160-copy-2.jpg

 
Larch colors peaked early in the Canadian rockies, with snow last weekend up high and strong winds through the early part of this week leaving many trees stripped and the trail a carpet of golden needles, on our traverse of Pocaterra Ridge on Wednesday. No crowds though, thanks to a start in the clouds, with clearing after lunch.
View attachment 92512
Trees in sheltered spots were still hanging on to their needles, but the brilliant gold color has faded already.
View attachment 92513
View attachment 92514
Afternoon clearing on the ridgewalk.
View attachment 92515
A bit of color remaining, on a section where most trees were bare.
View attachment 92516View attachment 92517
Above- a look back at the ridge walk.
View attachment 92518
A bonus end to our day was stopping along the drive home at a quiet picnic area, to BBQ dinner and walk around the pond.
The aspens are full-on right now in the Kananaskis valley!
View attachment 92519View attachment 92521

I've got a trip planned for NW Montana in two weeks in hopes to see some larches. Looks like I may be well past peak for them by the time I get up there! Dang dry weather.
 
I've got a trip planned for NW Montana in two weeks in hopes to see some larches. Looks like I may be well past peak for them by the time I get up there! Dang dry weather.
Don't despair! You mention NW Montana, so I'm guessing that you could well be referring to the Western Larch, found in valley bottoms and lower elevations in the Kootenays in BC, and adjacent in NW Montana. Typically that species changes color a couple of weeks later than the Alpine Larch depicted in my photos. Alpine Larch are also found in Glacier National Park in Montana, and even when not peaking a bit early, are usually past prime by the first week in October.
 
Colors in the southern Adirondacks today ...

View attachment 92525
View attachment 92526
View attachment 92527
View attachment 92528View attachment 92529
View attachment 92530

These were all within 30 minutes from our house. However most trees in our neighborhood are still pretty green!

@kwc - Beautiful colors!
We have many big Maples that peaked last weekend with vivid red and orange colors and now the trees already dropped all the leaves. Last year the same Maple trees peaked Oct 16, but they never got that vivid red and deep orange colors. This year we also have many Maples along the driveway that are still all green, just like you mention!
So happy to finally get a ton of rain this week!
 
Don't despair! You mention NW Montana, so I'm guessing that you could well be referring to the Western Larch, found in valley bottoms and lower elevations in the Kootenays in BC, and adjacent in NW Montana. Typically that species changes color a couple of weeks later than the Alpine Larch depicted in my photos. Alpine Larch are also found in Glacier National Park in Montana, and even when not peaking a bit early, are usually past prime by the first week in October.
Great insight! I knew of the two different types, but I didn't realize the timing was much different. I'll stay optimistic. Thanks!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
SteveR Fall Colors 2022 Photography 71
NorthwestWanderer Montana Fall Colors Timelapse Film General Discussion 0
Ugly Fall Colors 2021 Photography 60
SteveR Fall Colors 2019 Photography 37
Wanderlust073 Album Fall Colors 2018 Photography 68
IntrepidXJ Album Fall Colors 2017 Photography 31
D Album Fall Colors 2016 Photography 60
Vegan.Hiker Vermont's Fall Colors Hiking & Camping 9
pixie1339 Fall colors in Southern Utah? Trip Planning 23
Tres Westbrook Denali Fall Colors Everything Else 11
IntrepidXJ Fall Colors in the Elk Mountains Hiking & Camping 5
IntrepidXJ Piñon Mesa Fall Colors Hiking & Camping 4
IntrepidXJ Grand Mesa Fall Colors Everything Else 3
Nick Album Fall Colors 2014 Photography 141
Krissi Cook What are the fall colors in southern Utah like right now? General Discussion 33
IntrepidXJ Fall Colors on Owl Creek Pass Hiking & Camping 6
IntrepidXJ Red Mountain Fall Colors Hiking & Camping 6
HomerJ Album Fall Colors 2013 Photography 47
MtnMatt Willow Lake Fall Colors in Big Cottonwood Canyon Hiking & Camping 2
IntrepidXJ Rock Art & Fall Colors Hiking & Camping 6
IntrepidXJ Fall Colors in the Elk Mountains Off Road 4
pixie1339 Fall colors in Capitol Reef Trip Planning 41
IntrepidXJ Chasing Fall Colors Off Road 7
IntrepidXJ Album Fall Colors Photography 75
kwc Fall hike to Chase Lake, Southern Adirondacks Hiking & Camping 1
kwc Another Fall Day of Paddling On The Water 0
kwc Fall Paddling On The Water 1
zionsky Roaming around Zion Fall 2022 Hiking & Camping 4
kwc Fall paddle on the West Branch of the Sacandaga River 10/23/22 On The Water 0
norwegianxplorer 6 days Backpacking Norway in the Fall (Part 2) Backpacking 4
norwegianxplorer 6 days backpacking Jotunheimen in the fall Trip Reports 4
balzaccom Mok Wilderness in the fall Backpacking 1
balzaccom Yosemite in the Fall Hiking & Camping 0
XID_AZ Poison Spring Canyon / Black Jump Fall 2021 Trip Planning 2
marquiri Bob Marshall Fall 2021 Trip Planning 0
zionsky Hiker Dies from Fall at Angels Landing General Discussion 1
kwc Fall hiking in the southern Adirondacks Hiking & Camping 4
kwc Biking on a warm fall day Everything Else 1
norwegianxplorer Norway Backpacking in the fall, Western Norway Backpacking 5
piper01 fall foliage in Colorado late September Trip Planning 6
Jackson A Fall Foray into the Teton Wilderness Backpacking 13
Ugly Sandstone Romping for Fall Break Backpacking 19
Titans Pharaoh Lake Wilderness - Brilliant Fall Foliage, Pond and Lake Reflections- Adirondacks, North Eastern US Hiking & Camping 20
b.stark Crack In Rock - Fall 2016 Backpacking 6
fossana Pine Creek/Granite Park fall excursion (High Sierra) Hiking & Camping 14
kwc one more Adirondack Canoe Day trip - Fall Lake Stream On The Water 2
kwc Adirondack Day Hike Fall 2014 Hiking & Camping 12
Laura Fall in Aravaipa Canyon Backpacking 11
Skiwi An overnight at Lake Blanche in fall Backpacking 2
Tim Valentine Patagonia in Fall Everything Else 12

Similar threads

Back
Top